ACFW 2018 PART 1

Hello and welcome to another Monday blog post!  If you are new, so glad you stopped by!  Hope you make this a Monday habit. 

For those of you who are regular visitors, you know that I just spent the last several days at the ACFW 2018 Conference (American Christian Fiction Writers).  While I was there, I tried to journal my experience as much as possible, to share with you.  I was busy from morning until late at night, everyday, so I didn't get to journal as much as I liked, but I was too busy having an AMAZING time to worry about it too much.

Even though, my time for journalling was so short, I managed to get way more information, than you probably want to read in one blog post.  So, I decided to split this post up into parts.  I'm not sure how  many I will end up with, but I will try to get them down to smaller chunks, because I know I am not the only busy person out there.

9/20/18

Here I sit, on a little patio outside of a Marriott in Fullerton, Alabama.  It’s 7:03am and I just fixed some coffee with milk and lime water.  I’m sitting with my husband enjoying the cool morning.  Back home, it’s probably hot and humid like normal, so I will enjoy this while I can.  About 5:30am I was making corrections to my Pitch and Synopsis, that I hope to present sometime over the next few days at my ACFW Conference.  We hope to make it to Nashville by 11:30am, and I will register.  My first class starts at 2:00pm.  

My schedule is full from morning to night and I can’t even express how excited…and nervous, I am.  The first time doing something is always nerve-racking for me, maybe that’s why I am almost 50, and I am just now starting to go after my dreams.  Better late than never…maybe.  I hope I didn’t wait too long.

I almost didn’t get to come at all.  I got clearance from my doctor the night before yesterday.  A health scare almost put me out of commission, but Praise the Lord, He heard my and many others' prayers. Now, I am on the mend and on my way to a Conference I have been looking forward to for about a year.

So, that's all I got written that first day.  We didn't make it by 11:30am, is was closer to 12:30pm.  

The conference was held at The Opryland Resort in Nashville, TN, and it is HUGE!  By the time we got to our room, I only had a few minutes to freshen up and then I was out the door to register, then join the "First Timers" class.  My husband helped me find where I needed to be, then he worked to get all of our stuff from our car to our room (no easy task).

Here was my Thursday schedule:

I went to the Agent panels during both of the Spotlight time slots.  I am glad I did.  I learned so much about what a Literary Agent is looking for.  I talk about that, in my next journal entry.

9/21/18

It’s 6:37am Friday morning.  I have been up over an hour, my mind has been in a whirl, with all there is to do today and all that I learned yesterday.  One exciting thing is, last night I got to see almost all of my favorite authors.  They were up on stage receiving awards for all the books they have written.  One of my favorite Authors, Debbie Macomber was the Keynote Speaker.  She was hilarious! 

https://debbiemacomber.com/books#/

 I also had the chance to speak with several published Authors, as we sat at the dinner table last night.    It's so interesting hearing about all their WIP's (work in progress).  I spent 2 hours in front of two panels of Literary Agents and I learned SO much!  The most important thing is, I NEED A LITERARY AGENT!  So, I will try to network with as many as possible while I am here.  This morning I have a one on one meeting with an Editor, but I think the next step is the Literary Agent.  

Now, it’s time for me to get ready for the day.  I go until 10:30pm tonight, with only a break for supper with my sweet Husband, who is being so supportive and helpful, while I am here.  Lugging all my stuff to our room, including four heavy manuscripts, was no small task!  I appreciate you, Sweet Hubby!!!!

I am writing this at 9:23pm, while I sit in the Tennessee Ballroom of the Opryland Resort, waiting for the “Worship and Write” section of my schedule for the day.  It has been a pretty amazing day so far.  After breakfast, I got to hear another talk from Debbie Macomber.  She is such an amazing and inspirational Speaker and Author!  I am an even bigger fan now.  After that, I had my meeting with the Editor.  She was very easy to talk to and made the experience so much better, than what I imagined it would be.  She seemed very impressed with my Pitch and Synopsis, to the point that she asked if I would be willing…(TO BE CONTINUED...)

See! I told you this was too long for one post.  I hope you will join me again next Monday to see what happens next.

Taking care of business:  One thing I learned from just about everyone I heard speak, was I need to build my Platform.  I have talked about this in the past, but evidently the rules have changed.  I don't just need to be active on social media, I need to build my fan base.  That means I need you to follow me, on my blog, on social media and I need your email addresses, you can leave that on my blog and hopefully soon, my website.  Why do I need your email address?  1.)  I can notify you when a blog post goes out.  2.)  I can send you my newsletter quarterly. (I plan to start that very soon.)  3.)  When my books release, I can let you know.  4.)  If, I have any special contests or special guests for my blog, I can let you know.

You don't have to worry about me cluttering up your email box.  I don't have time for that.  I just need you to help me show the Literary Agents and Publishers that you care about my writing journey.  God bless you and your family.  Thanks!

In Christ,

Sandy

Stressed Out!

Here I am on another Monday....does anyone else think Monday's come around way too fast?  Not that I don't want to talk to you again, but it catches me off guard and I'm like, "What do I have to say, that they would care to hear about?"  So, I ramble away and hope something I say will mean something to somebody.   

I have determined though, that today I will not talk about the ACFW Conference that will be here IN 10 DAYS!!!!!!!  I have talked enough about all I have to do for that.  Is anybody sick of hearing about my to do list yet? ✋ If I am tired of talking about it, you must be tired of hearing about it.  Now, if this is your first time reading my blog, you may be a little lost.  If you go back and read my last several blog posts, you should be on track with the rest of us. (Don't worry though, when it is over, I will plan on letting you know how it went.)

I do want to talk about STRESS, because well, I have BOOCOODLES (a huge amount) of that right now.  I don't want to talk about the things that are causing me stress,  like 10 MORE DAYS!!!  I know I am not the only one with things going on in their lives that cause stress.  So, I want to talk about what I do to calm down and get through it.  Maybe, it will help me to think about the things that have helped me in the past and it might even help some of you, too.

Now, not all stress is from bad, sad or difficult situations, sometimes really happy or exciting things can cause stress.  Maybe, just because we are out of our comfort zone, our normal life is being interrupted or more is being added to our plate.  If you have a full plate already, but add a gourmet piece of pie to it, the pie is awesome, but something has to give to make room for it.

Prayer

When I am stressed, there are things I do, that I know help me.  I may do some or all of them, depending on the situation.  Sometimes, I do other things first, but prayer is definitely what should come first.  I am a Christian.  I pray in Jesus' name.  I believe that He is The Way, The Truth and The Life.  So, since I believe that with all my heart, mind and soul, why would I seek any other answer?  I shouldn't, but I do believe the Lord has given us resources to use and I am thankful for them.

John 14:6

” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Bible

Reading the Bible is so important.  I believe the Bible is God's Word.  Everything I need to know concerning how to live, how to go to Heaven, how to know God, how to avoid those things that will only cause heartache and pain, all of it can be found in the Bible.  I can also find joy, peace, comfort, strength, courage and confidence, in the Bible.  I am a proponent of reading the Bible cover to cover.  There are many Bible reading plans that can help you read the Bible through in a year, two years or even 90 days!  I have done all of those.  I don't want this to sound like I am bragging, I am not, but I have read the Bible through so many times, I have lost count.  I am telling you this to say, I really do believe in reading ALL of God's Word.  It can give you such a clear picture of God's story that He gave to us and how we fit into it.  So, I encourage you to pick a plan, stick to it and find out everything God wants you to know.  When I am stressed though, and looking for comfort, I tend to go to certain parts of the Bible to find it.  The Psalms are always a good place to read. Also, I love 1 Peter, 2 Peter...there are too many to write them all.  The point is, the Bible is the best place to search for help, when you are stressed.

2 Timothy 3:16

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,"

Reading

Sometimes I just need to escape into another life altogether, for a little while. If so, I may choose a fiction or a biography or autobiography to read. Those lives have nothing to do with me. I can read about them, put the book down and their problems stay within the pages of that book. I can sit back and enjoy "watching" other people deal with their situations, but I am not needed to solve anything.  I can choose any kind of book I want, to suit my feeling at the moment.  Maybe, I want a book that will give me advice on dealing with my situation.  For instance: When, I needed to know how to start editing my first novel, I started reading books that told me how to do it.  The whole editing process didn't seem quite so daunting, when I learned some useful ways to go about it.

Writing

Writing is a great way for me to deal with stress.  I can pore out my feelings onto the page.  Maybe not exactly my feelings, but I can focus on the feelings of a character and express those feelings in ways, I'm not so good at in real life.  I can make whatever situations they are going through work out exactly the way I want.  I can give them a friend to talk to or give them someone to take their feelings out on.  I can give them a post to kick or something to throw.  Are you getting the idea?  Sometimes, I write poems or songs, which are also great ways for me to get my feelings out, so I can face them and deal with them.  I also find that writing down the things I need to do helps.  You know, "To Do" lists.  Some of my lists are:  Morning Routine, Household Chores, Writing, Shopping, Nighttime Routine, etc.  As I check things off my lists, it feels really good and I can feel a little weight being lifted off my shoulders.  You don't have to be a Writer to keep lists, write in a journal, write letters (that is still done), etc.  Sometimes, even brainstorming can help.  Write down everything on your mind that needs doing or that you are feeling.  Confining those things to paper can make them feel more doable, manageable.  Instead of the mountain in our minds, we can have a real "list" of things that can be conquered one by one, step by step.  You CAN DO IT and so can I.

Music

What I listen to, varies depending on the mood I am in.  If I want to wallow in a funky mood, then the music I choose will be whatever kind keeps me in that mood.  It could be anything from Mozart to Willie Nelson.  Or, if I want to maintain or achieve a cheerful attitude, I will choose something upbeat.  I love many different types of music.  Christian contemporary to hymns or classic country to 80's, are all options.  The point is, there is a song somewhere out there that can help me when I am stressed, if only for the length of that particular song.  I'll see if I can link a few of my "go to" songs for you...

                                           https://youtu.be/cv5V3bY6qlI

https://youtu.be/L3HQMbQAWRc

https://youtu.be/Jmd4OLzhQw0

https://youtu.be/emgv-VRtMEU

https://youtu.be/Xkk0CJCXtFE

TV/YouTube

Watching a show at night with my husband or family, can be a good time to just relax, decompress and get my mind off of what I still have to accomplish for the day.  Usually, our time to do this is at night while we eat our supper.  We watch one show while we eat, then I'm off and running again.  Many times though, while I am working on cooking, cleaning, or other household duties, that is when I will watch YouTube.  I watch Writers/Authors that are giving advice on specific things related to writing, editing, etc.  I watch people like @lovemeg09 or @clutterbug or @doitonadime.  They have been great for helping me come up with my routines, organizing and getting my house clean and in order.   I use to call myself an Organizer Wannabe, but not anymore.  By watching those shows and others, I have learned that the "secret" to a clean and orderly home, is not unattainable, even for someone who wasn't born with the organizer gene.  Learning from those who know more than me, in certain areas, can really help with stress.  All of a sudden, something that seemed so unattainable or beyond me, becomes attainable.  As I gain knowledge, I gain confidence.  You can gain knowledge in many ways, I already mentioned reading, but maybe you have someone to talk to that could help.  Writers groups on FaceBook have been a big help to me.  Maybe it's a grandma, mom, dad, boss, friend, pastor, counselor...don't be afraid to seek out help.  I use to be too scared, or maybe it was too proud to ask for help, but now I am going to those who know what they are doing.  I am learning and it is really making a big difference.  Here are a few of the YouTubbers that have really been a help to me:

      https://www.youtube.com/user/OrganizedClutterbug

      https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvP5FAvS734EJHkSQK6g8Ng

https://www.youtube.com/user/DoItOnaDime

                                     https://www.youtube.com/user/goinswriter

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1h9eCJKV3s

Thankfulness

It is hard to stay stressed, when I am thinking about how thankful I am for all that the Lord has blessed me with.  When I walk around our property, see the beauty of God's creation, look at my children and grandchildren and take time to just enjoy the things the Lord has blessed me with, I can rest with a calm mind.  When I just stop for a moment, think about all the Lord has brought me through, I can have peace.  Whatever this life holds from day to day, I can rest in the knowledge, that the Lord Jesus is in control and I can trust Him.  I may make my plans and my lists, but truly it is the Lord who guides my footsteps.  Worrying, stressing, fretting...all of it is really in vain.  The Lord's Will for me will be accomplished and that is what I want for my life, only what He wants for me.

I hope that this has helped you today.  It has helped me.  I feel much calmer now, than when I started writing this.  Sometimes, it is good to stop, breathe and refocus on what we know to be true.  May God bless you and your family.

In Christ,

Sandy

P.S. No blog post next Monday.  I will plan to post again after my Conference.  Pray for me!

Poetry in Motion

(When I wrote this Blog post yesterday morning, I didn't realize I would have no internet for most of the day.  Also, my technological inexperience would make various challenges in posting my pictures, beyond my ability to fix, without time or internet access.  I know....excuses...excuses...Anyway, sorry my Monday blog is being posted on a Tuesday, at least I hope it will post today.  Just know that I will try my best to get my blogs out on Mondays, but if you don't see my post, please keep an eye out for my next one, I'll get it out asap, unless I've warned you ahead of time, when my next post will come out.  Anyone here reading this now, I am so glad you dropped in and I hope you will come again.)

Wow! Time Flies!  Another Monday is here already!  Well, I hope you are all doing good and looking forward to another week.  I am not going to give you another run down of my to do list today, but I do want to give a quick update.  Although, no one made comments on here, I did get some comments from a few other places, where I shared my blog.  I was given some very helpful hints on writing my Synopsis as well as a couple other tips.  Thanks to those who shared some advice, it was truly appreciated!  Another, update is, I am almost done editing Chapter 24 of my first book.  My problem... I also added more to my story.  That made Chapter 24 almost as long as two chapters, hmmm.  So, now I may end up adding a little more, then splitting Chapter 24 into a Chapter 24 and 25.   Also, excited to say, my business cards came in! Yay! Thanks @vistaprint!  They look great!! Now, I will have plenty to pass around at the conference.  So, that is where I am right now.  

Today, though, I really want to share with you a part of my writing life, I don't talk about much.  Poetry...I like to write poetry.  I have written way more in my head, than I have put down on paper, but lately, I have tried to make an effort to take the time to put it in writing.  I have shared most of them, but not all in the same place, so you may or may not have seen them.  Do I consider myself a Poet?  I guess if you write poetry, that makes you a Poet...maybe, but I can't tell you the rules of poetry.  I can't really tell you the types of poetry.  I just know that sometimes, there is a poem in my head, that I can't forget, until I get it on paper.  Then there are some, I can't even forget then, until I share them.  So, all I can figure is, the Lord must want someone else to see it.  I don't know who or why, but He knows and so I share it, hoping it speaks to someone.

The first poem I want to share today, is my latest.  I wrote it recently, after my daughter's wedding.  With each of my children that have left home, our family dynamics have changed.  When, my first daughter left home, I remember mourning the loss of life as we knew it.  I think I cried for almost a solid month.  The Lord helped use this song to bring me out of that dark time, and it has helped me many times since.  

  Then, just when I got use to the new "normal," another child would leave.  I have learned, though, that change can be good and although they left, they didn't leave the hole their leaving made. They filled it back up, with new people for us to love.  So, here is my latest poem, reminding myself to stop looking at the past, where there nothing for me and look forward to life.

I realize it can be a little hard to read, but I made it a little fuzzy on purpose.  Why? Well, because, I was thinking about the memories of the past growing fuzzy, blurry, before fading away.  Even though that fuzzy or blurry font didn't mean anything to anyone else, I imagine, it did mean something to me.

My next poem is one I wrote not long after my fourth grandchild was born, which was only a couple of months ago.  On my mind though, was not just him, or even just my other grandchildren, but my own children and how they were so little at one time, but grew to not need me as much anymore...at least not for the same things.  Not all my poems are so sad or depressing, but poetry is a way for me to express myself, happy or sad, I try to write honestly.  If you want to know who I am, reading my poetry, is probably the best way.  I am an introvert and expressing myself doesn't come easy, but somehow writing my feelings comes easy.  Saying words out loud seems so hard.

I don't remember why I wrote my next poem, but it is pretty self-explanatory.  I guess I just wanted to explain how I can be known better.  Like I said, I am an introvert.  It is hard for people who read my writing or even talk to me about writing to understand that.  You are getting a different picture of me, but really the picture you get is a pretty clear representation of who I really am.  People who have known me for years, read my writing and say, "I never knew that about you."  or some similar statement of surprise.  My first blog title "Introducing Me," was not used lightly.  I knew, it would be an introduction for those who didn't know me at all and for those who thought they knew me already.

I just want to share one more poem.  It was just for fun, but it is really so true and any introvert knows exactly what I am talking about.  

Well, I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the thoughts behind some of my poems.  I don't ever know when I will wake up and have a poem stuck on my mind or when one will just pop into my mind in the middle of the day.  I guess the Lord has a reason for giving me at least some of them.  If any of my poems have made an impact on you or given you food for thought, I hope you'll share that with me.  I would love to know.  May God bless you and your family.

In Christ,

Sandy